Bella's POV:

"Jasper," I whispered as I gripped his hand tightly in mine. It had been almost twenty four hours since he had been shot and the police were no closer to catching Edward and Alice. We all knew they did it we just couldn't find them. Jasper had a police guard in front of the ICU at all times and that made me feel a little bit better. He looked so vulnerable in the big hospital bed.

"Jasper, I need you to wake up. I know you're in pain and probably very confused but our family needs you. Our children need their daddy and I need my husband, my best friend."

I jumped when a hand touched my shoulder breathing in sharply.

"Sorry Bells," Emmett said sheepishly. "I just wanted to see if you wanted to grab dinner?"

I glanced between my brother and the prone form of my husband and started to make an excuse but my traitorous stomach interrupted me.

"Come on," He said gently "You haven't eaten since before all of this happened. I know you. The only way you were pulled from Charlotte was dragged kicking and screaming and I will carry you out of here and force feed you but I was hoping we could go and have a pleasant meal at that diner down the street."

I opened my mouth to protest again but he simply held out his hand and I sighed in defeat.

He gave me a weak smile and took my hand in his and he pulled me into a brotherly hug "He'll come out of this."

"I sure hope so," I sighed and took one last look at Jasper before letting Emmett led me out of the ICU, past the guard and down the long halls of the hospital I normally felt so comfortable in.

Emmett didn't say anything as we walked down the road towards the diner which I was grateful for. I had to admit it was nice not to feel so closed in for a little while.

We didn't talk until we sat down and Emmett finally spoke "Char is asking when mommy is going to come home. Maybe you could come have dinner with all of us tonight- it would be good for you and the kids."

I nodded "I'll come. I should probably try to sleep while Jasper is still out of it. Lord only knows how much I'll get once he wakes up."

"Probably a good idea" Emmett gave me a true smile and picked up a menu.

"When do Carlisle and Esme get to their hotel?" I asked as I glanced over the familiar choices.

"Tonight," Emmett said "We should be able to get a hold of them. We left numerous messages with the concierge but never said what happened."

"I'll tell them," I said quietly. I was going to have to explain why their child was put in danger and that was not something I was looking forward to.

J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B

I returned to the hospital to tell Jasper I was going to be gone for the night. Even though he wasn't conscious I knew in my heart he could hear me.

I kissed him carefully and told the police guard to take good care of him and then I let Emmett drive me home. Well to his home, mine was still taped up and had yet to be released by the police.

"Mommy!" Charlotte shrieked as I walked through my brother's front door. "I missded you!"

"I missed you too princess," I hugged her tight and inhaled deeply.

"Hey Bells!" Rose shouted from I assumed the kitchen where I smelt the sweet smell of chocolate chip cookies- Rose's specialty, a secret recipe she'd started making when we were fifteen and she still refused to give me the recipe.

"Mm, smells good." I gave her a small smile as I entered the kitchen. Cole and Brooke were sitting on the kitchen floor beside the table playing with a pile of building blocks and toy cars.

"I thought you could use some comfort food if Emmett convinced you to come home for the night."

"You're the best." I laughed and picked up my husband's mini me and hugged him tightly "Where's Peter?"

"Peter was watching a movie in the living room with Paul. He and Leah are pretty much camped out here as they wanted to help with the kids."

I nodded and left the kitchen heading to the living room to see Peter, I needed to see for myself how he was doing and hoping that he was doing as well as everyone seemed to think he was.

He leapt from the couch when he saw me "Aunty Bella! Charlotte really missed you last night are you staying?"

"Ya buddy I'm staying the night," I hugged him to my legs and asked "How are you doing Peter?"

"Uncle Paul said he'd take me to the movies for taking care of Char. I said only if Char can come too? Can she?" He was so excited and I knew in my heart he was going to be alright.

"Peas mommy?" Charlotte piped up from Leah's lap where she'd just settled down.

"Yes Charlotte can go with you." I smiled "And maybe I could come with you guys?"

The duo looked between each other as if having a silent conversation and then nodded in unison.

I flopped onto the couch beside Leah and Cole twisted in my arms and put his little chubby hands on my face and started giggling when I touched his tummy. I was so glad that he was clueless as to what was going on.

J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B

Rose's phone started ringing just as we got all the kids down to bed and she recognized it as an international number and handed the phone to me.

"Hello?" I said as I tried with difficulty to slip a robe my brother had lent me over my shoulders. Rose always kept her house freezing- it was 64 degrees in the summer and 62 in the winter.

"Bella," Carlisle's bell like voice rang over the line "We just arrived to our hotel room to find twenty two messages all saying some variation of call us the instant you arrive. What's going on? Is Peter alright?"

I sighed debating how to start this conversation "Carlisle can you put me on speaker phone? I'd rather only say this once."

"Of course," I listened to the shuffle "We can both hear you now."

"Okay first off Peter is one hundred percent okay and second I owe him everything. He saved my daughter's life,"

I was interrupted by gasps "What do you mean he saved Charlotte's life?" both said in unison.

"Okay I need you guys to listen without interrupting because I don't know how well I'll be able to get through this more than one time." I sighed and said slowly. I ran a hand over my face.

"Alright Bella," Carlisle said and I could hear Esme starting to breath faster and heavier.

"There was an incident at the house yesterday afternoon, not too long after you guys boarded the plane." I started out and tried to find the right words to tell them. "The house was broken into and Jasper was hurt. He told Peter to take Char and run and he did."

I tried really hard not to cry as I spoke.

"Wait, do we need to come home?" Esme finally spoke up "How badly hurt is Jasper? We can be on one of the next flights home."

"Jasper," I wiped a tear from my cheek and Leah rubbed my shoulders trying to soothe me. I'd sat beside her on the couch as Esme spoke. "was shot. He's in a coma, apparently the bullet collapsed one of his lungs and he lost a lot of blood."

"Oh Bella," Carlisle said and I tried really hard to stop the tears from coming faster. "How is Char doing?"

"Peter took her and ran and they hid in Rose and Emmett's greenhouse until I found them," I explained "The paramedics looked them both over and said they're physically fine. Char seems to be dealing very well and Peter is a little soft spoken but he just keeps asking if Char and Jazz are okay. I'm really sorry that he was put in such a situation."

"Bella," Carlisle spoke firmly "He's okay; he's just worried about his family and I'm sure once he sees Jasper up and running he'll be even better. He did the right thing and I know you're taking care of him now. How is everyone else?"

"We're all kind of camping out at Rose and Emmett's," I choked on a laugh "Cole and Brooke are sharing the crib and Peter and Char are sleeping on air beds in the nursery."

"Do you know who did this?" Esme asked and I heard the anger clearly in her voice.

"We are ninety nine percent sure it was Alice and Edward but the police is investigating and of course it's being taken very seriously since Jasper is one of their own."

"Good," Esme growled.

"Rose is just bringing Peter down so you can tell him hello; he's been eagerly awaiting your phone call all day." I said before I handed the phone to the half asleep pre schooler.

"Mommy? Daddy?" He said groggily. He perked up though when he heard their voices. They spoke for about ten minutes and then Peter animatedly told them "Good night! Loves you!"

"They says to give the phone back to you Aunty Bella." He grinned as he handed me the phone and then launched himself into Emmett's arms. I watched as my brother carried him back upstairs.

I waved to him and he giggled and waved back. It made me smile just hearing his relaxed laughter.

"We're going to catch a flight home on Monday." Carlisle said and I noticed that he was no longer on speaker phone. "We want to be there for you and the kids. Be safe and just remember we love you and are behind you."

"Thank you Carlisle," I said no longer able to stop the tears from overwhelming me.

"Of course Bella," He said "Try to sleep tonight you sound as though you could use it."

"Thanks," I whispered as we both hung up.

Rose handed me a box of tissues and put a bowl of popcorn on the table in front of me.

"Come on," She smiled "We're going to dry those tears and we're going to take the evening to try and relax a bit- Miss Congeniality anyone?"

"Sounds like a good plan to me," Leah grinned and Paul nodded.

Rose looked at me expectantly so I nodded and she stood to put the movie in.

"Sam says hello and to let you know it's his 'shift' out front and if you need anything or hear anything to just let him know."

"I'll thank him before I head to bed." I nodded and we all settled back to watch the movie.

J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B

As everyone else started to head to bed I headed to the front porch to see Sam and thank him for his support.

"Hey," I said quietly as I leaned against the doorframe. Rose had the porch light on and Sam was sprawled back in a lounge chair reading a book and seemingly basking in the mild weather

"Hey Bella," He smiled at me.

"Any good?" I asked gesturing at his book.

"Decent enough. How's your husband doing?"

"Alright, I just got off the phone with the hospital. He hasn't needed another transfusion and all his vitals are stable so that's all good."

"I'm glad."

"Sam I'll never be able to thank you for doing this for us."

"Bella, I became friends with you and Rose in the class and I'm just glad that I'm able to help. Now go and try to get some sleep."

I gave him another smile and waved good night before going inside.

I made sure the door was locked behind me and started climbing the darkened stairwell suddenly feeling the exhaustion the day had brought me.